Saturday, 14 December 2013

Consumerism is not a pathway to joy
and meaning in life. If specifically asked the question, nobody would
ever say the secret to a 1-________________ (JOY), meaningful life is
to buy a lot of stuff. Deep down in our hearts, we know we were made
for something bigger, something more significant than mere2- ________________(CONSUME).
However, we work more hours than ever before, earn more
3-________________ (COME),
but save less. Personal debt has increased 4-________________(DRAMA)over the previous three decades. And consumer spending has
been exalted to a virtue in our society.

As a result, the average credit card
holder now carries four different credit cards in his or her pocket.
Shopping malls 5-________________(NUMBER) high schools
two to one. Seventy per cent of Americans visit a shopping mall each
week. Home sizes have doubled in the past fifty years. And consumer
debt has risen to 35% of 6-________________ (HOUSE)income.

Will Rogers said it like this, “Too
many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they
don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”

We never intentionally set out to buy
more than we need or spend more than we make. But here’s the
problem: 7-________________ (MINDFUL)consumption always turns
into excessive consumption. And excess consumption results in more
stress, more burden, more pressure to impress, more8-________________(ENVIOUS),
less financial freedom, less generosity, less contentment—and
I haven’t even begun to mention the environmental impact.

It is time to rethink our spending
habits, rediscover thoughtfulness and intentionality in our
purchases, and remind ourselves that happiness is not on
9-________________(SELL)at the department store. Buying more is not the solution. We
were made for greater 10-________________ (PURSUE)
than material possessions. And our lives should reflect that
truth.

KEY

Consumerism
is not a pathway to joy and meaning in life. If specifically asked
the question, nobody would ever say the secret to a joyful,
meaningful life is to buy a lot of stuff. Deep down in our hearts, we
know we were made for something bigger—something more significant
than mere consumption. However, we work more hours than ever
before, earn more income, but save less. Personal debt has
increased dramatically over the previous three decades. And
consumer spending has been exalted to a virtue in our society.

As
a result, the average credit card holder now carries 4 different
credit cards in his or her pocket. Shopping malls outnumber
high schools 2 to 1. 70% of Americans visit a shopping mall each
week. Home sizes have doubled in the past 50 years. And consumer debt
has risen to 35% of household income.

Will
Rogers said it like this, “Too many people spend money they haven’t
earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t
like.”

We
never intentionally set out to buy more than we need or spend more
than we make. But here’s the problem: mindless
consumption always turns into excessive consumption. And excess
consumption results in more stress, more burden, more pressure to
impress, more envy, less financial freedom, less generosity,
less contentment—and I haven’t even begun to mention the
environmental impact.

It
is time to rethink our spending habits, rediscover thoughtfulness and
intentionality in our purchases, and remind ourselves that happiness
is not on sale at the department store. Buying more is not the
solution. We were made for greater pursuits than material
possessions. And our lives should reflect that truth.